Chapter 141: Ball

As Christmas approached, excitement filled Takamari Academy. The reason? The ball.

It was more than just a student event. A tradition since the Meiji era, a social gathering for the elite, it was a significant event for both the school and the adults who attended.

The student council started preparing for the ball as soon as final exams ended. The third-year students, with graduation approaching, took the lead, preparing for their “debut” into society. We first-years handled the smaller tasks: setting up the stage, addressing invitations, etc.

Tachibana-senpai handed me a list of names.

“These people attend every year, so we have to send them invitations. These are the new additions.”

The list was filled with impressive names: Fields Medalists, Nobel laureates, famous artists, Hollywood actors, bestselling authors, world-renowned film directors, CEOs of global companies, acclaimed classical musicians and conductors, high-ranking officials from the UN and other international organizations, even a local senator. All Takamari Academy alumni, apparently.

‘The author really went overboard.’ The guest list was ridiculously extravagant.

“Will these people actually attend? They’re so busy.”
“Yes. Some of them come every year. They’re all Takamari alumni.”

Well, this was an elite academy where first-year students took university-level classes… A familiar name caught my eye. Yukino Sena, who’d graduated last year.

“…Sena-senpai is on the list?”
“Yes. It’s tradition to invite famous alumni.”

Aya, glancing at the list, frowned.

“But she probably won’t be able to come.”
“Why not? She was here during summer vacation.”
“I heard she’s on a world tour for her winter concert. She has a very busy schedule. And her health…”

Sena-senpai was a world-famous YouTuber. She’d become one of the most famous alumni, practically a celebrity, rarely seen at school.

Reina-senpai, Aya’s older sister and a third-year student, chimed in.

“It’s better to send an invitation than not. It’s a gesture of goodwill.”

Not everyone who received an invitation would attend. But it was a way to include them, even indirectly.

We organized the invitations and prepared them for mailing. Half were being sent internationally, and some were being emailed to recipients in areas where physical mail might be… intercepted.

‘Intercepted invitations…?’

“Okay, let’s stop here for today.”
“Yes!”

We finished our preparations for the day and walked home with Aya and Mizuki. The conversation naturally turned to the ball.

“We need to prepare our outfits, right?”
“Yes, we’ll need new ones for high school.”

“Outfits…?” I asked hesitantly, and Aya and Mizuki nodded.

“Yes, there’s a dress code for the ball.”

“Girls wear dresses, boys wear suits.”

Their casual tone made me feel slightly dizzy. What kind of school was I attending?!

****

Three days before the ball.

Students and staff were busy with preparations. The student council was also busy preparing the gymnasium, which would be the main venue. Today was the first rehearsal for the club performances.

“Is the microphone volume okay?” A technician asked, and Aya, meticulously checking the sound, nodded. “Yes, that’s perfect.”

I stood beside Aya with a notebook, checking the order of performances and assisting her. The third-year students were leading the preparations, but we were there to support them.

“Next up, the Orchestra Club, please!”

I called out the next performers, and the orchestra members hurried onto the stage. The combination of string and wind instruments required some adjustments to the sound system. We were even using walkie-talkies, making the whole thing feel very… official.

Was this… a bigger deal than the spring festival?

[Rina, how’s the sound check?] Aya’s voice came through the walkie-talkie.

“It’s good, but I can’t hear the violins in the back row…”
[Tap the microphone!]

I tapped the microphone as instructed, a jarring feedback sound echoing through the speakers, and the technician nodded, seemingly satisfied.

The rehearsal continued with the Choir Club, the Band Club, and other clubs taking turns on stage. I worked with Aya, checking the sound and relaying requests from the clubs to the technicians.

As the rehearsal ended, Aya sighed and turned to me.

“That went smoothly. If anyone had complained, we would have been here until dawn.”

“That’s true… The ball is really close now.”

Now that the stage rehearsals were over, we had to coordinate practice times for each club over the next three days. If Aya and I were handling this, I couldn’t imagine the amount of work the others were doing.

As the rehearsal ended, people started leaving the gymnasium. Soon, the once bustling space was empty and silent, illuminated only by the ornate chandeliers installed for the ball. It felt like a spotlight on an empty stage. I felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness, even though the ball was still a few days away.

Aya approached me and held out her hand silently.

“Rina, will you dance with me?”

The soft light from the chandeliers illuminated her face, her eyes filled with affection. I smiled and took her hand.

“Sure.”

Aya gently put her arm around my waist, and we started dancing in the silent, empty ballroom, our footsteps creating a rhythm in the stillness. I followed her lead, and she guided me flawlessly, just like during our practice session last weekend.

Aya’s movements were even more confident now, and I felt completely at ease in her arms. Someone had once said that a 15cm height difference was the perfect gap for a couple. Aya and I were probably around that difference…

My heart fluttered. Aya would probably wear makeup that day. Should I wear some too? I vaguely remembered seeing ballroom scenes in Western movies…

“Rina.”
“Yes?”
“I’m counting on you that day.”

Aya’s soft voice against my ear made me smile.
This felt like a dream, a romantic dream where I was dancing with the person I loved, alone, in a secret ballroom, like a scene from a Western movie. But the warmth of Aya’s body against mine, the gentle brush of her breath on my skin, felt real, too vivid to be a dream.

“I’m counting on you too… Aya.”

I whispered, hoping she’d heard me. Aya hugged me a little tighter, as if she had.

We continued dancing, our single dance illuminated by the last rays of light filtering into the gymnasium.

****

The next morning, I noticed a strange atmosphere at school. I was used to the whispers and stares that followed Aya, Mizuki, and me, but… this was different, similar to the tension before the cultural festival.

As I sat down at my desk, feeling uneasy, Mizuki showed me something on her phone.

“Rina-tan! Did you see this?!”

It was a Twitter post from an anonymous account, presumably a student.

‘Spotted a beautiful couple at Takamari! Totally like a movie scene.’

The picture, taken secretly, showed Aya and me dancing in the dimly lit gymnasium. It looked… beautiful, like a scene from a movie.

My heart sank. Was this another malicious attack, like the one before the cultural festival? But the comments were surprisingly positive.

Wow… such a beautiful couple!

Who are they? This is so romantic!

Isn’t that the Trinity? I’m so excited for the ball!

We have a couple like this at our school?!

“Ah…”
“This time, it’s a good thing. Don’t worry too much.”

“Mizuki… you scared me.”
“Sorry, sorry, heehee. Come on, let’s get ready for today’s preparations.”

I smiled faintly at Mizuki’s playful grin.